Who Should I Start? Joe Mixon or Jaylen Warren

Tuesday, July 22, 3:16 PM

According to league sources, Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle), who was sidelined this spring and had a walking boot on his injured ankle, is doing great at the start of training camp. However, KPRC's Aaron Wilson writes that the Texans are likely to ease Mixon into practice and drills in camp this summer. With that said, the 28-year-old's medical outlook entering his second season with the Texans appears to be positive, and he should once again be a key part of the offense in 2025. The 28-year-old ran for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns during the regular season in 2024 despite missing three games due to a high-ankle sprain. Mixon will share a backfield with Nick Chubb and Dameon Pierce in 2025. Nobody should mistake Mixon for an RB1, especially behind Houston's shaky offensive line, but the expected volume alone puts him in RB2 territory in fantasy.

Monday, June 16, 3:13 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren recently noted via the team's website that he adjusted his training this offseason in anticipation of handling a larger workload in 2025. "I approached this offseason differently," said Warren. "I did a lot more things for longevity-wise...like they say, the best ability is availability." The Oklahoma State product enters his fourth season with the team and projects as the lead back for the first time in his career with former teammate Najee Harris' departure to the Los Angeles Chargers. However, he isn't the only show in town. Warren should play a substantial role in the backfield regarding touches, but rookie Kaleb Johnson projects to eventually fill the role vacated by Harris due to his similar frame. That isn't to say he'll overtake Warren, but it could mean he handles goal-line touches in time. Expect Warren to see an uptick in carries from previous seasons and play a significant role on third downs and passing situations.